Cross-country Skiing from the Mountains to Oslo

Join us on a Nordic skiing holiday from cross-country paradise in the mountains to the famous Holmenkollen ski arena, just outside Oslo.

Norway is proud to be named the “Cradle of Skiing” and have numerous areas with well-maintained ski trails. Normally, the snow conditions are perfect and stable. Norwegians proudly state that they are “born with skis on their feet”, and this tour is designed to offer some of the best and most beautiful skiing options Norway has to offer. Come experience Norway's cross country ski culture with us in Norway!

The tour starts on the mountain plateau north-west of the Olympic town of Lillehammer (the 1994 Winter Olympic).

Ski on well-maintained trails heading south (with the sun in our face) through the snow-covered landscape, woods, frozen lakes and open fields.

Observe small, isolated farms and mountain cabins, a large part of Norwegian culture.

Your luggage is transferred between the lodges, and we only carry day packs while skiing.

Ski on Oslo's 2,000 KM of ski trails in Nordmarka, the large forest surrounding the Norwegian capital of Oslo.

Eat at small huts offering traditional bakery and waffles.

Finish our ski tour at the famous Holmenkollen ski area, host of the 2011 World Championship in Nordic Skiing.

Holmenkollen is a short tram ride away from the city centre and allows us an urban after ski, farewell dinner, and time to explore the bustling city – with several excellent restaurants, museums and attractions to visit. If you have extra time, we recommend you plan an extra day in Oslo before or after the tour. Oslo is among Lonely Planet's top 10 cities on their Best in travel 2018 list.

You can book the cross-country tour in the menu to the right. This trip can also be organised as a custom tour where the route, dates and itinerary can be changed to match the number of days and distances that suit the requirements of your group. Please let us know if you have any questions - you can contact us at [email protected]

DIFFICULTY

This trip is for skiers with previous cross-country skiing experience. The participants should be able to ski at a reasonable pace and should be at a moderate fitness level and be able to ski up to 4-6 hours per day. We rate it as a level 3 out of 5 - please read more about our level of difficulty here.

WHAT TO BRING?

Have a look at the full equipment list by clicking "Equipment list" in the menu above. Check out our equipment video here.

ACCOMMODATION

On tours with Hvitserk of Norway, you always stay in high-quality accommodations. On this particular tour, we stay in traditional mountain hotels/lodges with fine facilities such as sauna's, cosy lounges and log fire. We spend the last night in a centrally located hotel in Oslo.

BAGGAGE

There is no weight limit, other then what your airline has imposed, but, as the group and luggage will all have to fit into our means of transportation, we do ask you not to bring more than one main item of baggage and one daypack. The tour includes luggage transportation, and you will only have to carry your daysack on this trip. The last two days of skiing you will need to bring everything you need for one overnight stay - so please make sure your daypack is big enough.

INSURANCE

You need a travel and health insurance that also includes transportation back to your country. Remember to bring your insurance card/information.

LANGUAGES

The guide speaks English.

CHANGES MAY OCCUR

We reserve the right to make changes to the program, and the price. The day to day program is indicative, and changes may occur. Our goal is to complete the itinerary as outlined, but we must underline that the conditions and weather might necessitate changes. The guide will make a decision on the route based on those conditions. Please have a look at our terms and conditions.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

Minimum: 6 people; Maximum: 12 people. With more than six guests the group will be followed by two guides.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

One ski guide following the group from the airport and all the way back to Oslo

Accommodation as described in the day by day program in twin rooms (shared with the same sex).

Breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner (as described in the day to day program)

Luggage transportation - you only need to carry your daypack

Local transit on tour (train, bus, tram etc.)

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

International transit

Train from Oslo to the airport after the trip

Drinks and snacks.

DAY 1: TO THE MOUNTAINS

Meet at Oslo Aiport, transfer with a train to Vinstra, through the Olympic area of Lillehammer and Gudbrandsdalen (Host of the 1994 Winter Olympics). The train from Oslo airport leaves at 14:30 to Vinstra takes around 2,5 hours, and in the winter it is quite common to see elks a long the railway. From Vinstra, we travel by private transfer to Dalseter, a traditional, family-run mountain lodge. During dinner, or perhaps in front of the fire, we go through the program for the next days. The evening is spent enjoying the superb view of the neighbouring lake, and the mountains of Jotunheimen National Park in the distance.

AccommodationMountain hotelMealsDTransport3 hoursTransport1 hour

DAY 2: FIRST DAY OF SKIING

The area around Dalseter is a popular cross-country area and have several well-maintained trails. Each day, we have several different options and could take advantage of the well-maintained trail network. After a gentle climb, we ski through birch- and pine forest. En route, we passed a few farms, cross some frozen lakes and arrive at Fefor, a historic hotel operating since 1891 – which soon after opening became a popular holiday destination for European royalties. On a clear day, you can enjoy the view towards Jotunheimen National Park and Rondane National Park along the track.

AccommodationMountain hotelDistance20 KMMealsB, L, D

DAY 3: CROSS COUNTRY PARADISE

From Fefor, the trails start more or less on the doorstep, and we have multiple options as we ski towards the cross-country paradise of Gålå. The first part of the day is easy, but we do have a climb around halfway before we reach the mountain plateau towards our isolated mountain lodge of Lauvåsen. At Lauvåsen, we will have a delicious dinner and spend the night – around 1000 meters above sea level.

AccommodationMountain lodgeDistance20 KMMealsB, L, D

DAY 4: SKIING IN THE MOUNTAINS

The ski tracks went close to the top of the downhill course from the Olympics in Lillehammer in 1994. Here the view is very nice, and the terrain is quite easy mountainous terrain. Many Norwegians have their second house in the mountains (favourite place to spend weekend and holidays), and today we will ski past some of these cabins, or Hytter – as we call them in Norway. During the day we will ski above the tree line, and the view of the surrounding mountains are beautiful. The final part takes us towards the Skeikampen ski arena, and we spend the night in their nice hotel. Here you can enjoy the evening in their sauna and hot tub in the hotel spa.

AccommodationHotelDistance20 KMMealsB, L, D

DAY 5: PERFECT TRAILS

Morning transfer with private shuttle and train to Stryken (around 2,5 hours). Stryken is in the northern part of Nordmarka, the forest surrounding Oslo – the Norwegian capital. Here we enter a new network of perfectly groomed ski trails and go to Kikut (18 KM). Kikut is a hut/lodge with great food, sauna with a nice view and one of the most popular destinations for keen cross-country skiers in Oslo. Kikut has a sauna with a stunning view across the frozen lake of Bjørnsjøen.

AccommodationLodgeDistance20 KMMealsB, L, DTransport2,5 hours

DAY 6: SKI TO THE CITY – URBAN AFTERSKI

From Kikut, we go to the arena for the 2011 World Championship in Nordic Skiing, Holmenkollen. Probably the most famous ski arena in all of Norway. The distance is around 18 KM, and we stop at Kobberhaugen or Tryvannstua (or both) to have a taste at their traditional bakery and waffles. While skiing, we enjoy the magnificent view of Oslo and the Oslofjord, before we cross the finish line of our cross-county tour just beneath the famous Holmenkollen ski jump. From Holmenkollen, we take the tram back to Oslo for a farewell dinner in downtown Oslo. Overnight at hotel.

AccommodationHotelDistance17 kmMealsB, L, DTransport30 min

DAY 7: DEPARTURE DAY

Breakfast, time on your own in Oslo (let us know if you want to stay longer and need assistance with hotel bookings and activities) and transfer to Oslo Airport.

MealsB

Take a good look at this list, and make sure you bring everything you need. We encourage you to use what you have for this trip, and purchase items if youre missing something important on the list below. We have divided the gear list into three categories:

1) Required:If you do not own this gear, you must acquire it for your trip.

2) Recommended: Gear we suggest to be comfortable, but it is not imperative.

3) Optional: Fun, additional luxuries.

Layering is extremely important in a variable climate like Norway. This list will guide you through the essentials. Remember the Norwegian saying "There is no bad weather, only bad gear", and prepare appropriately for any weather.

The video below is for SUMMER gear, you can use it as a baseline in order to pack for your winter trip. The weather in Norway at this time can vary from a dry, cold winter to a more harsh climate depending on the year. Make sure you pack effective gear and try and keep weight relatively low. Welcome to Norway!

We always recommend wool in the Norwegian Mountains, but if you already have synthetic layers and don't want to buy new ones, synthetic is okay.

REQUIRED:

SKIS, BOOTS, POLES

Durable skis, leather clip in boots, and backcountry ski poles.

SKI WAX

Blue and green rating

BASE LAYER - 2 SETS

2 sets of wool long-sleeved top and bottom. Warm, Extra Warm or Expedition thickness is recommended.

MID-LAYER

A medium thickness wool or fleece top to go over your base layer.

INSULATED JACKET

A thick, warm, insulated jacket to put on during breaks. We recommend a puffy jacket with down or synthetic.

SHELL / RAIN JACKET

Gore-Tex or similar is mandatory. Extrememly important in Norwegian climate. The jacket must be waterproof, have a hood, and make sure you don’t get wet even if it rains all day. We recommend jackets with pit zips for ventilation.

MEDIUM INSULATED JACKET

Use a synthetic or down jacket that fits over your base layer and mid layer, yet underneathe your rain shell. Should be comfortable with full range of movement when all layers are on.

2 warm hats. 1 thick, 1 thin. Make sure at least one has a windproof lining.

HIKING SOCKS

4 pairs, we recommend wool, above the ankle or higher. 2 thin. 2 thick. We recommend a 5th pair that are extra thick for evenings.

BOOTS

Bring lightweight boots.

BACKPACK

Backpack, 30-40 liter capacity.

SUNGLASSES 1 & 2

UV rated, we recommend a strap to keep them in place and so they don't get lost. Bring dark lenses with plastic frames, not metal. Bring a second pair of Alpine Glasses, these cover more of your face in case of strong winds.

SUNSCREEN / CHAPSTICK

Make sure the Chapstick has UV rated sunscreen in it.

WATER BOTTLES

Insulated water bottle, 2 liter capacity. Do not bring a camelback bladder, this will freeze in cold temperatures.